Part of Steve's mouth twitched. He knew what it was and he knew there absolutely no hiding it. It was like being able to see into the future, which was really a terrible metaphor considering how he knew it all played out now, but still he couldn't help himself. He was standing there, face to face, with Sharon Carter, and there was only one thing Steve Rogers could do: He smiled at her like she was everything that was right and good with the world.
Because, darn it, that's exactly what she was.
"If it's any consolation, I like the choice you went with here." Because of course Steve Rogers was going to be encouraging. It was who he was with a stranger on the sidewalk, never mind with the woman who had unquestionably and forever stolen his heart. The fact that it was true, that he thought she looked absolutely wonderful? Steve would never admit it, but it had nothing to do with what she was wearing. He'd seen her in every state, alive to dead and back again, and he knew what matter. What mattered was Sharon, and Sharon would always be beautiful to Steve.
Slipping to the side, Steve cocked an elbow out and made room for her hand. He knew it was an old fashioned gesture, just like getting up with the sun and still drinking his coffee black. It was one of those things that not so no end to the eye-rolling, but Steve didn't care. To him the gesture was a classic -- plus it put them just that much closer.
"If there's one thing I've learned..." Steve spoke softly, his warm, farm boy tones, bleeding out of the heart he wore so openly on his sleeve. "It's that I should never doubt you as a general rule." Steve let the thought hang for a moment, smiling over at her as he reached out with a firm hand to push the door open for her. Classics. "Especially when it comes to matters of pie." He didn't think truer words have ever been spoken.
Pushing out onto the street, Steve glanced over at her. He couldn't stop smiling. Even Hulk would have had trouble forcing those muscles into any other shape. Free of the confines of needing it, Steve slid his other hand across his abdomen and draped it over Sharon's gently.
"So, how are you?" He asked quietly. "This place has been treating you well I hope?" His tone was decidedly hopeful. There was nothing more he wanted to hear than that she'd been happy. He'd accept safe of course, because even that was a marked improvement, but he yearned for a tale of Sharon's life that gave her that which he'd always wanted her to have.
He really did love that woman. Probably more than the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of America. Combined.